There's the customization option url-proxy-services
https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/url/Proxies.html
Does setting this help?
I was using god-mode in the past. At some point I found it more effective to use remapped keys like you described. I'm on the fence though. The pinky stress is real, and devil-mode seems worth a look.
@Schnaftator
@lemmy.sdf.org